Tate: Project Collage

Book excerpt: Cut it, stick it, twist it! Collage is the art of reinvention, a magical and tactile process that invites you to collect, combine and transform existing imagery and ephemera, both old and new, into entirely original compositions. Tactile, versatile and accessible, collage encapsulates the magic of experimentation. Collage can elevate trash into treasure, reinterpreting the familiar and mundane. Requiring no specialist equipment - only everyday materials - it is an art form for everyone and every budget. The 50 contemporary collage projects within this book will both inform and inspire you to experiment with a range of materials, techniques and themes. Each chapter centres around a different subject, and the projects within develop on this theme and offer a variety of fresh approaches to it. Simple step-by-step directions demonstrate the creative process behind an example artwork. With a great mix of collage styles to choose from, you can start at the beginning and work your way through the book, or dip in and out of the projects as you wish. From striking architectural builds to mixed-media menageries, this book offers fresh ideas and guidance to help you cut and paste your way to your own unique artworks.